Fitness

What is reiki healing and how can it help you?

A beginner's guide

By
Shweta Gandhi October 24, 2018

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Reiki is an alternative healing therapy, believed to be discovered in 1922 by a Japanese Buddhist monk, Dr. Mikau Usui. The word "Rei" translates to "universal" and "ki" means "life force", which is essentially our source of vitality or the life energy that keeps us going. So, when you're stressed out and sick, you're more susceptible to contracting diseases as your life force is low. But when your "ki" is strong and high, you will find yourself in abundance of energy and high spirits that will ensure mental clarity and a feeling of overall well-being.

Dr. Roma Singh, traditional reiki grandmaster and visiting teacher at Ananda in the Himalayas (a luxury spa resort in Uttarakhan), says that reiki harnesses the universal life force energy to open the 7 chakras or the energy centres of the physical body. "This energy is around planet Earth and freely available to all," she adds.

What separates reiki from other healing therapies is that it is administered by a "laying on hands" method or a "palm healing" technique wherein a reiki practitioner or teacher heals you through their hands. Dr. Roma explains, "Reiki works with energising the 7 major chakras in the body by placing the palms on the chakras. The energy flow can be felt by the healer and the recipient as warmth and a gentle tingling sensation. Other parts of the body can also be energised where there are injuries, pain or discomfort."

Dr. Roma believes that most of the modern day stresses can be cured by aligning our chakras. "When our chakras are energised, they vibrate at high frequency levels, resulting in a healthy, balanced and grounded physical body. Reiki can also be used to heal physical and emotional issues," she says. So whether it is a recent job change, a difficult relationship or a personal shortcoming like low self-esteem that's bothering you, clearing and charging your chakras using reiki can solve your problem.

"When the chakras are open and charged, the aura (the energy field around the body) is healthy and strong. This creates a protective shield around us, keeping negative energy from the environment from affecting the physical and emotional body," says Dr. Roma.

Though working with a certified reiki master is recommended, you can also work with yourself to heal your body. "A basic knowledge of the chakra system is necessary. In addition, a desire to heal oneself is beneficial too. This faith and desire itself brings on the flow of life force energy onto the chakras through the palms and onto the body. With regular practice, the flow does become stronger, resulting in a feeling of well-being, calm and peace."